5 kW to Amps
5 kW is 21.74 A at 230 V and 41.67 A at 120 V (single-phase, power factor 1). Table for DC and three-phase, power factor 0.8, and the formula.
Formula
Worked example
- I = 5 × 1,000 / (230 × 1) = 21.74 A
- With a power factor of 0.9: I = 5 × 1,000 / (230 × 0.9) = 24.15 A
On other supplies
| Supply | Voltage | Current at pf 1 | Current at pf 0.8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | 12 V | 416.7 A | not used |
| DC | 24 V | 208.3 A | not used |
| DC | 48 V | 104.2 A | not used |
| Single-phase | 120 V | 41.67 A | 52.08 A |
| Single-phase | 230 V | 21.74 A | 27.17 A |
| Single-phase | 240 V | 20.83 A | 26.04 A |
| Three-phase | 208 V | 13.88 A | 17.35 A |
| Three-phase | 400 V | 7.217 A | 9.021 A |
| Three-phase | 415 V | 6.956 A | 8.695 A |
| Three-phase | 480 V | 6.014 A | 7.518 A |
Three-phase rows use the line-to-line voltage. DC ignores the power factor.
What 5 kW looks like
5 kW is a larger water heater, a small electric oven or a mid-size inverter.
This is an estimate of the load current only. Choosing a cable or a breaker also needs the installation method, the ambient temperature, the voltage drop and the rules you work to.
Frequently asked questions
How many amps is 5 kilowatts?
5 kW is 21.74 A on a 230 V single-phase supply and 41.67 A on 120 V, both with a power factor of 1. The current depends on the voltage, so it is a different answer on every supply.
What if the power factor is not 1?
The current rises. At 230 V and a power factor of 0.9, 5 kW draws 24.15 A. Heaters and filament lamps are close to 1, while motors and many power supplies are lower.
What about a three-phase supply?
5 kW on 400 V three-phase at a power factor of 0.8 is 9.021 A. The line voltage is used with the factor √3 (about 1.732).
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